St. Paul daily globe., 1887-10-23
EDGERTON EXPLAINS.
Some Points of Sound Civil Ser
vice Doctrine.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22.-Civil Service
Commissioner Edgerton. during an in
terview had with him by an Associated
Press reporter yesterday, was asked if
in his opinion government clerks and
other employees had right, unabridged
by the civil service law, to associate
themselves together as a society or aSSO-
citation for the purpose of advancing the
interests of any political party. and
whether such society or association
has Alright to assess its members or to
receive from them. directly, conribu-
tions for political purposes. "Unaues-
tiOnably they have that right replied
Mr.. Edgerton. when person has sue
ceSsfully passed civil service eXamin-
alton and has been duly certified and
permanently appointed to the classified
service. there the authority of the COM
mission ceases. and his action thereafter
is controlled by the appointing power.
From that moment his action is outside
of the control. authority, influence or
power of the civil service commission
ers. He is entirely outside of their
jurisdiction"
But" queried the reporter, lis not
the commission charged with the en-
fOrcement of the civil service law, and
does not that law prohibit such contri-
butiOnS?;
''Section 13 of the act of Jan. 16, 1884,
says that No officer, clerk or other per-
son i'll the service of the United States
shall directly or indirectly give or hand
over to any other officer, clerk OF person
in the service Of the United States, or to
any senator or member of the house of
representatives OF territorial delegates,
any money or other valuable thing on
account of, or to be applied to. the pro-
motion of any political object what
ever"
rs not the civil service commission
responsible for the enforcement of that
law in its letter and Spirit?''
Certainly it is." said Mr.. Edgerton,
but that law has nothing to do with in
dividuals outside of their office OF Off
cial positions. Nothing is said about
licensed as detective association nor
clothed with its functions or authority.
EX-COmmiSSiOner Eaton and Gregory;
in letter to the president, dated Oct.
10, 1885, state that it hardly need be
said that the commission has no author
ity concerning the enforcement of the
criminal provisions of the civil service
act The president, in his circular let
ter of July IA, 1856, to heads of the de-
partments, says that individual inter-
est and activity in political affairs are
by no means condemned. Office hold
ers are neither disfranchised nor forbid
den the exercise of political privileges; {;
but their privileges are not enlarged
nor is their duty to party increased to
perniciOus activity by office hold ing.''
Can anything be palmer in its mean
ing than that?' said Mr.. Edgerton.
docs the president anywhere in that
letter intimate that clerk must become
political mute? No, sir 1t is perni-
cious activity: it is the brawling often
siveneSS that the president condemns,
as do all right thinking men; but an
honest effort in the interest of the party
in whose principles he believes is COM
mendable."
what are your views in regard to
MI. Oberly's recent order that members
OF any political committee or association,
or any one engaged in the work of pro-
noting the interests of any political
party, shall not be eligible to appoint
ment on boards of civil service exam
inerS?" was asked.
Il think such an order is not justified
by the law or any order made by the
president. 1t involves political INQUIRY
by the commission-a right or privilege
denied to it by the law" was the reply.
HE might as well order that any man
belonging to any particular religious
society shall be ineligible for appoint
ment on such boards. No, SIR" he con-
tinued, .'all of this is outside of the
Jurisdiction of the civil service commits
sion. thoroughly believe in an honest
Interpretation of the civil service law.
believe in enforcing that law in the
manner in which congress intended to
have it enforced, but l do not believe in
straining after something, nobody
knows what, for political or personal
effect. and l believe that the president
and tlree-fourths of the Democratic
party will sustain nv nOSitinn.,